Yesterday, our country faced another crisis, Senator Antonio Trillanes lV, Brig. General Danilo Lim and other military officers walked out of the court and marched to Manila Peninsula Hotel and expressed their withdrawal of support to the President. On their way to the hotel, Trillanes took the opportunity to call on to people to go out and support their clamor for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to step down from the presidency."Magsama-sama tayo. Nanawagan po kami sa taongbayan na naniniwala sa pagbabago. Join us po" was the words he used to seek the support of the people When I heard him say those words, I had goose bumps. It was like hearing the late Cardinal Sin, calling on to people to come to the aide of the rebel leaders. Unlike the successful Edsa 1, no one came to the aide of Senator Trillanes and company.
Question is why? If Senator Trillanes is so confident that the 11 million votes he received will support him, why did he not succeed? Probably, the method he used is no longer effective. The people are tired hoping against hope that if they overthrow a government or a public official from the position, they can see change. People power was effective during Edsa 1, it was also effective with Edsa 2. But after that, succeeding revolts against the government failed to initiate dramatic response from the people. Are the Filipino people disillusioned with the outcome of Edsa 1 and Edsa 2 that they no longer want to use the same method to unseat and put into position a person who does not truly deserve to govern?
I am disillusioned. I rejoiced when President Erap was thrown out of Malacanang and President Gloria Arroyo was sworn as the President. I further rejoiced when Gloria Arroyo was elected into office during the last presidential election. I thought she is the "next best choice" among the candidates. But with the continous graft and corruption cases being thrown at her government, I am already in doubt. But despite my doubts and disappointment with the government, I still think that the President is doing a good job in improving the economy. I just hope that she distances herself from the people who are taking advantage of her position.
As for Senator Trillanes, I admire his desire to have a clean government. But wouldn't it be better to start a clean government in a "clean" way too? What he did was a big risk. He gambled on the 11 million votes he received. He was elected by these 11 million people because they believe that he can make a difference in the government. But making a difference may not mean making a drastic move. He is a Senator but he disrespected another wing of the government, the justice system. Their decision to go out of the Peninsula and "surrender" was not because they are thinking about the safety of the people around them. They should have thought about the innocent guests of the hotel before they went there. This was the second time that he risked innocent people in his desire to overthrow the government. The first was in Oakwood, and now, the Manila Peninsula. I believe that the reason he decided to "surrender" was because, hours after calling on to people to support them, no significant number of supporters arrived. Maybe realizing that they will not be able to gather considerable amount of people on the streets, they surrendered under the guise of "welfare of innocent people."
I want change. I want a clean government. I want a stable economy. But how can we achieve this if there are people who does not have high regard of the law? If there are elected officials who think they are above the law? Trillanes and the President Arroyo that they want to portray are no different from each othe. If all the charges of corruption and election fraud against Arroyo are true, is Trillanes, who violated the constitution, disregarded the court, occupied a private property for personal intentions any different?
Remember what Jesus said to the people throwing stones at Mary Magdalene. "Whoever is sinless can throw the first stone".
Friday, November 30, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
The Teacup Story
Just want to share this story with you...
There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful." As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke.
"You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay." My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "let me alone", but he only smiled, "Not yet."
"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!" I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet."
Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as He shook his head, "Not yet."
Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. "There, that's better," I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Stop it, stop it!" I cried. He only nodded, "Not yet."
Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, "Not yet."
Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, "Look at yourself." And I did. I said, "That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful."
"I want you to remember, then," he said, "I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you."
Author unknown
There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful." As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke.
"You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay." My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "let me alone", but he only smiled, "Not yet."
"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!" I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet."
Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as He shook his head, "Not yet."
Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. "There, that's better," I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Stop it, stop it!" I cried. He only nodded, "Not yet."
Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, "Not yet."
Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, "Look at yourself." And I did. I said, "That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful."
"I want you to remember, then," he said, "I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you."
Author unknown
Hello!
I'm back.
And I am sorry that I missed one Blog Your Blessings Sunday. But this does not mean that I missed counting my blessings.
My mom is regaining her strength after spending three days in ICU, and two days in recovery room.
I was able to spend quality and quantity time with her. I came to know more about her illness. When I rushed her to the ER, I couldn't answer questions about her illness. But now, I know by heart her blood pressure, pulse rate and medications.
My planned business was put on hold when mom was hospitalized. But this again turned out to be another blessing, because I found a cheaper and a better place for my venture.
Blessings. Sometimes they are candy coated, sometimes we have to look beyond what is presented to us. Dwelling on the negative side will make things worse, so I always try to look at the brighter side.
And I am sorry that I missed one Blog Your Blessings Sunday. But this does not mean that I missed counting my blessings.
My mom is regaining her strength after spending three days in ICU, and two days in recovery room.
I was able to spend quality and quantity time with her. I came to know more about her illness. When I rushed her to the ER, I couldn't answer questions about her illness. But now, I know by heart her blood pressure, pulse rate and medications.
My planned business was put on hold when mom was hospitalized. But this again turned out to be another blessing, because I found a cheaper and a better place for my venture.
Blessings. Sometimes they are candy coated, sometimes we have to look beyond what is presented to us. Dwelling on the negative side will make things worse, so I always try to look at the brighter side.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Blog Your Blessings Sunday: Delays
Usually, if there is a delay in my schedule I would be impatient. If there is a long line in the register, I would be forced to chose another establishment or postpone buying an item. But this particular day, the delays that transpired paved a smoother way for me to handle a crisis.
It is a blessing that I couldn't find some items in the supermarket so I have to browse all the aisles.
It is a blessing that the cashier was new, so she was quite slow in punching the items I purchased.
It is a blessing that the queue in the restaurant we had our lunch was long.
It is a blessing that the van going to our place left just as we arrived at the terminal. So we have to wait for another van.
It is a blessing that it took longer for the van to load more passengers.
Without these delays, I would have difficulty bringing mom to the hospital for an emergency treatment for her asthma attack. We were about to go home, the van is almost full when my mom voiced her wish to be nebulized. I had to rush her to the E.R. because she was really having a difficult time breathing. Being an asthmatic myself, I know how difficult it is to suffer from an attack. That, plus her rheumatic heart condition made it doubly worse for her.
In life we encounter so many "delays". We are disheartened, we get mad. But beyond these delays, are beautiful fruits.
It is a blessing that I couldn't find some items in the supermarket so I have to browse all the aisles.
It is a blessing that the cashier was new, so she was quite slow in punching the items I purchased.
It is a blessing that the queue in the restaurant we had our lunch was long.
It is a blessing that the van going to our place left just as we arrived at the terminal. So we have to wait for another van.
It is a blessing that it took longer for the van to load more passengers.
Without these delays, I would have difficulty bringing mom to the hospital for an emergency treatment for her asthma attack. We were about to go home, the van is almost full when my mom voiced her wish to be nebulized. I had to rush her to the E.R. because she was really having a difficult time breathing. Being an asthmatic myself, I know how difficult it is to suffer from an attack. That, plus her rheumatic heart condition made it doubly worse for her.
In life we encounter so many "delays". We are disheartened, we get mad. But beyond these delays, are beautiful fruits.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Blog Your Blessings: Time
Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't
own it, but you can use it. You can't keep
it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it
you can never get it back.”
Harvey MacKay
I had a heart to heart talk with my cousin yesterday. She was already in her forties, an accomplished career woman who chose to leave the corporate life for her family. She shared how she missed so many things in her daughter's life, and the success she achieved with her job cannot compensate with those things. Her daughter once remarked that even if she is blessed with material things, her happiness is not complete because her mom was not there for her. Now, being a full time mom in just a little over a year, she still has to learn a lot about her child. She is starting fresh, hoping that she could still bridge the gap between her and her teenage daughter. But still wishes to turn back time so she could change the past.
Indeed, time is free and priceless. We are blessed with time, with an opportunity to use it. Though it is free, it comes with a great responsibility too. That is to make sure that we spend it the best way we can. Sometimes, when we have not acknowledged the most important thing in our life, we take time for granted. we spend it carelessly. And then when realization strikes us, we would like to turn back the time. Not all of us are given another chance. So while we do not know how many chances could be given to us, why not spend our time wisely?
Happy Blog Your Blessings Sunday!
own it, but you can use it. You can't keep
it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it
you can never get it back.”
Harvey MacKay
I had a heart to heart talk with my cousin yesterday. She was already in her forties, an accomplished career woman who chose to leave the corporate life for her family. She shared how she missed so many things in her daughter's life, and the success she achieved with her job cannot compensate with those things. Her daughter once remarked that even if she is blessed with material things, her happiness is not complete because her mom was not there for her. Now, being a full time mom in just a little over a year, she still has to learn a lot about her child. She is starting fresh, hoping that she could still bridge the gap between her and her teenage daughter. But still wishes to turn back time so she could change the past.
Indeed, time is free and priceless. We are blessed with time, with an opportunity to use it. Though it is free, it comes with a great responsibility too. That is to make sure that we spend it the best way we can. Sometimes, when we have not acknowledged the most important thing in our life, we take time for granted. we spend it carelessly. And then when realization strikes us, we would like to turn back the time. Not all of us are given another chance. So while we do not know how many chances could be given to us, why not spend our time wisely?
Happy Blog Your Blessings Sunday!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Installing love
Just want to share this story with you...
Tech Support: Yes, ... how can I help you?
Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install Love. Can you guide me through the process?
Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?
Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?
Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?
Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running?
Tech Support: What programs are running?
Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now.
Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?
Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?
Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.
Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?
Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.
Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, "Error - Program not run on external components." What should I do?
Tech Support: Don't worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.
Customer: So, what should I do?
Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.
Customer: Okay, done.
Tech Support: Now, copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.
Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?
Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.
Customer: Thank you, God.
Tech Support: Yes, ... how can I help you?
Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install Love. Can you guide me through the process?
Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?
Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?
Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?
Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running?
Tech Support: What programs are running?
Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now.
Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?
Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?
Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.
Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?
Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.
Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, "Error - Program not run on external components." What should I do?
Tech Support: Don't worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.
Customer: So, what should I do?
Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.
Customer: Okay, done.
Tech Support: Now, copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.
Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?
Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.
Customer: Thank you, God.
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